“Glen Adams” 16, “Ed Pillings” AAA Trainer on left

Army – Syracuse Game Nov 6

This was one of the finest games of the 4 years for the Class of 62. In the 4th quarter, Syracuse (defending National Champions) trying to come from behind, would attempt 3 passes, then hand off to Ernie Davis who would pickup 10 or 11 yards before Army closed on him. As Syracuse drove closer to the goal, Army stopped the drive with an interception and then drove to the Syracuse one-yard line, when time expired. It was a night on the town in New York City after that game.

One of our Fullbacks (probably Ray) is going to Bust Somebody – Al Rushatz & “Ray Paske” ran this play several times with success. There is a clear image in my mind of Al, right in front of the Corps, getting tripped up at the line of scrimmage, dropping his free hand as he is nearly horizontal, regaining his balance and rumbling for more yardage.

Army has broken free, headed for a Score

‘on, Brave Old Army Team’
Backed by a legion of cheering cadets, the Army football team stormed into Yankee Stadium and beat favored Syracuse 9-6
Roger Williams, Sports Illustrated – November 14, 1960

For a disappointing, twice-beaten team, Army got a rousing send-off when it left West Point last week for its game with Syracuse. The corps of cadets disclosed and expended emotional reserves usually saved for the Navy game-signs, stunts, parades, a crackling determination all over the Point. Army, shouted 2,500 cadets, would beat Syracuse.

But Army was a 7-point underdog, and sportswriters noted that under Ben Schwartzwalder the Orange – in two varsity games, numerous freshman games and several preseason scrimmages – had never lost to Army in football. Still cadet spirit soared. At Yankee Stadium dedicated gray-coats plastered “Slash Syracuse” signs on sideline barriers and scattered oranges around a symbolic cross planted at midfield.

Army stole the on-field show as well. Playing their most inspired game in years, the Cadets forced Syracuse into costly mistakes. One penalty helped Army reach the Syracuse 12, where Tom Blanda kicked a field goal. A fumble on the Army 20 cost Syracuse its one real threat to score in the first half.

At half time, the Orange band marched and the “national champion” baton twirler performed. But the corps roared back with choruses of On, Brave Old Army Team. Then, in the third quarter, with Fullback Al Rushatz doing most of the carrying, Army moved swiftly and scored when sub Quarterback Dick Eckert faked two handoffs and cut inside end from the two. Army led 9-0.

Then Syracuse came to life. Ernie Davis ate up 37 yards on two runs and, when Army braced, Dick Easterly passed to Ken Ericson for a touchdown. Syracuse grabbed the ball again but Army stopped the Orange. With fourth and 10 on the Syracuse 39, Tom Gilburg dropped back in punt formation. Army scouts had seen the Orange fake a kick in similar situations and had alerted Coach Dale Hall. Hall played for the fake and, when Gilburg threw a pathetically wobbly pass, Army was ready. Roger Zailskas intercepted and that was all. The game ended 9-6 with Army on the Syracuse one and a mob of cadets jumping up and down on the sideline. They swept Hall and their team right off the field and on toward Annapolis.

The following article was written the day after the Army team took the Navy down to the wire in a most thrilling Army Navy games of that era. Navy prevailed that year, 17-12. Described by the Dean of New York sports writers, Red Smith (1905-1982), he aptly describes the exciting action in his exclusive column.

RED SMITH

The Slasher

Philadelphia, November, 26, 1960—–The first time they gave Joe Bellino the ball, Armys John Ellerson leaped upon his sternum and spread him out like apple butter 14pon the painted meadow of Philadelphias Municipal Stadium The second tim, he faked a quick-kick, spun to run to his left, and was hit from behind by a runaway beer truck named Bob McCarthy.

On his third try he did no better, and up in the press box aan said, “Army’ll beat this team.” Just then Bellino took the ball again. He shot through a gap near the middle of Army’s line, veered to the left on a long slant through the secondary, and raced 58 yards before George Kirschenbauer hauled him down on the Army 42-yard line. Navy was off and rolling in the 61st engagement of its Seventy Years’ War with the football paladins of West Point.

That first daring dash by the swift and stumpy marauder from the Severn didn’t lead directly to a score, but in one stroke it changed the complexion of the struggle from Gray to Navy Blue. Taking the opening kickoff, Navy was smashed flat by the same clamoring Cadets who had smeared the dangerous runners of Syracuse and Pitt earlier this season. Then a punt by Army’s Paul Stanley pinned the Sailors down a yard from their own goal line.

There was Navy staring glumly down the throat of a howitzer, and then Bellino busted loose. Before the first quarter was over, Navy was in front, 6-0. At intermission the score was 17-0, and 98,616 witnesses had a premonition that this might degenerate into another rabbit-hunt like Navy’s 43-12 gambol last year.

Early Errors Nobody could foresee the heroics which the second half would produce, the wild excursions and alarums, the mounting tension as Army came clawing back in a frantic struggle against the stubborn foe on the field and the coldly impartial clock hung up against a bright blue sky.

At halftime it seemed a shabby show, in spite of the mildest, loveliest weather this production had enjoyed in years, in spite of all the elegant trappings of traditional pageantry, in spite of the exciting presence of the admirable Bellino.

Army had messed it up early through mental and mechanical error. After the Cadets smothered Navy’s first action and forced a punt, Joe Blackgrove unwisely tried to field the bouncing kick with his back to an advancing horde. Smashed from behind, he fumbled away Army’s first chance to attack.

Stanley’s fine punt, repaired that damage, and after Bellino’s long run took the ball into Army territory, the military braced and Navy tried a fourth-down field goal which Greg Mather missed. So it was still a scoreless game, but on the very next play Al Rushatz, the West Point fullback, fumbled the ball back to Navy, Needing 23 yards for a touchdown, Navy got ’em fast, Bellino slanting over for the last four wearing Kirschenbauer like a stole across his shoulders.

Up off the Rug

THERE never was another one-piece play like Bellino’s big run, but in the second quarter he was a constant menace, butting the middle for short yardage and slipping outside the tackles to wriggle like a brook trout through congested traffic. With Joe running and Hal Spooner passing handsomely, Navy pushed down into scoring range again and Mather made the score 9-0 with a 26-yard field goal.

As the first half sifted away, the Midshipmen put on still another foray, once more with Spooner passing and Bellino carrying. With 17 seconds remaining, the quarterback threw to Jim Luper, who fell across the goal line with Bill Sipos hanging on. Trapped trying to pass for two extra points, Bellino flipped the ball back to Spooner, who ran for the 16th and 17th points.

Navy seemed In complete control. The Army attack, such as it had been, offered little to cheer the 2,400 Cadets in the stands. West Point backs couldn’t seem to get traction on tile dyed green grass, kept falling before they reached the line of scrimmage. Even the fire of the Army defense seemed damped after Navy’s first touchdown.

Something happened between halves, though. The third quarter opened, and it was a different game. With Tom Blanda’s passes complementing the rushes of Rushatz, Glen Adams and Kirschenbauer, Army drove for one touchdown and almost immediately set out after another. Again misfortune balked the Cadets; a penalty for having an inengible receiver downfield on a pass play slowed one drive, and the score was still 17-6 when the last period began.

Last Curtain

The jubilant Midshipmen on the stadium’s west slope had just about had it. Now and then they whooped and brandished white caps aloft, but mostly they sat transfixed, watching and praying, Dick Eckert, Army’s second quarterback, engineered a solid advance that Rushatz consummated with a dive into the end zone. Now it was 17-12 with nine minutes remaining for Army to chew at a five-point lead. Navy stopped a drive, then fumbled, Rushatz recovered for Army, 17 yards from victory. Yard by yard, cudgelling the line for short gains, Army ground ahead to the 6-yard line. There a hasty lateral got loose, rolled back to the Navy 20. Blanda passed and missed, passed and missed again. The clock showed 1:55 remaining when his last throw fell incomplete and Navy took the ball.

The contest was over, needing only a final theatrical flourish. There was a guy on hand to furnish just that. Guy named Bellino. Unable to run out the clock, Navy punted to midfield. Blanda wound up for the last prayerful shot, took aim on Blackgrove and fired. Bellino got in front of the receiver, picked off the ball on the goal line and went swirling 45 yards back to safety as the curtain came down.
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The material below this point is a site a work area.

The '54 Crest

28th Infantry Regiment Black Lion Award is intended to go to the person on his team "who best exemplifies the character of Don Holleder: leadership, courage, devotion to duty, self-sacrifice, and - above all -

an unselfish concern for the team ahead of himself."

"The Army moves as a team, eats as a team, and fights as a team."

The '55 Crest

Don Holleder Remember - The Soldiers you will lead Always Come First

Vann and Holleder

9 Army A's

The '56 Crest

The '57 Crest

Can Do

Gen Van Fleet addressing the Corps prior to the Navy Game

Constructed under supervision of Jay Gould "54 and the Ord Dept from a German Rocket Gun captured at Kasserine Pass. First used in the Duke Game.

28th Infantry Regiment Black Lion Award is intended to go to the person on his team "who best exemplifies the character of Don Holleder: leadership, courage, devotion to duty, self-sacrifice, and - above all - an unselfish concern for the team ahead of himself."